Spike
A forceful downward attacking hit in volleyball, driving the ball sharply into the opponent’s court.
Definition
A spike, also called an attack or hit, is the main scoring shot in volleyball. A player jumps and strikes the ball hard and downward over the net, aiming to make it land in the opponent’s court or to beat their block and defence.
A spike is usually the final touch of a team’s three allowed contacts, set up by a pass and then a set. Its power and steep angle make it difficult to defend, which is why teams build their attacking play around creating good spiking chances.
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Rules
- Three-hit ruleThe volleyball rule that a team may contact the ball at most three times before it must cross the net.
- Touching the netA net-play rule that penalises a player for contacting the net during a rally in net-divided sports.
- Ball-handling faultsVolleyball faults for catching, carrying or double-contacting the ball rather than cleanly hitting it.
Skills
- JumpingThe skill of leaping powerfully and with timing to reach or contest the ball in the air.
- SpikingThe volleyball skill of jumping and striking the ball forcefully down into the opponent’s court.
- SettingThe volleyball skill of accurately placing the ball for a teammate to attack.
- BlockingThe skill of using the hands or body to stop or slow an opponent’s attack.
Techniques
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- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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